Wow. How does one tolerate such filth?

GALESBURG — A man accused of living in a flea-infested house filled with dead animals was released from jail Thursday after he turned himself in to police Wednesday night.

Both neighbors and police reported that Michael Geier and his wife, Rebecca Johnson-Geier, both 28, returned to their 606. W. Monmouth St. home at different times Thursday night.

Johnson-Geier also was charged in the animal cruelty case. She was released on bond Saturday.

“The crime scene tape is down and they have been back inside,” said Jennifer Schisler, who lives across the street from Geier and Johnson-Geier. “The neighbors are getting real hot.”

Schisler said she has seen both Geier and Johnson-Geier remove items from the home.

“I saw him (Geier) walk out with a box last night,” she said.

Abingdon Police Chief Fred Andrews also was upset this morning.

“I was told we can’t keep them out of the house and can’t re-enter,” said Andrews. “We believe there are still dead animals in there and they (Geier and Johnson-Geier) are removing evidence.”

Andrews is awaiting word from Abingdon City Attorney Jack Ball on a court order that would allow the police to re-enter the property. He was unsure what the status of the court order was this morning.

“The matter is in Jack and the judge’s hands now,” Andrews said.

A call placed to Ball’s office was not immediately returned Friday morning.

During a hearing Thursday afternoon, Judge James Stewart set bond for Geier at $500 cash. Johnson-Geier, who was in the gallery during the hearing, bailed her husband out of jail.

Johnson-Geier asked Stewart if he would waive the 72-hour stay away law that requires an accused abuser to stay away from and have no contact with the victim for 72 hours after being released. “I don’t need the 72 stay away,” Johnson-Geier told Stewart. Stewart said he did not have the authority to waive the law and she would need to arrange alternate transportation for her husband after he is released from jail.

Johnson-Geier also indicated she wants to have the domestic violence charges dropped.
Following the bond hearing, Johnson-Geier declined a reporter’s request for an interview although she said “the whole thing had been blown out of proportion.”

While paying Geier’s bond minutes later at the Knox County jail, Johnson-Geier said she had not been in the family’s home for five days when police arrived Friday night. She declined further comment.

Geier is charged with animal cruelty, two counts of endangering the life or health of a child, domestic battery and interfering with a 911 call of domestic violence, all Class A misdemeanor’s punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. He also is charged with inhumane treatment of animals, a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail.

Abingdon police officers came upon the couple’s home Friday night while responding to a domestic violence call placed by Johnson-Geier against her husband of eight months. While searching for Geier inside the family’s residence, officers reportedly found seven dead animals and six living ones.

Two children were taken into protective custody and have been placed with relatives.
Geier’s next court appearance is Aug 14.

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